Breath diverter face mask



Dec. 21, 1948. F. L. HOWER BREATH DIVERTER FACE MASK Filed April 3, 1946 A no rneys Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BREATH DIVERTER FACE MASK Frank L. Hower, Rawlson, Ohio Application April 3, 1946, Serial No. 659,303

1 Claim.

contamination from an operator standing over him while working.

This mask is in a way similar to the nose guard used by football players except that this mask is provided with passages leading direct from the nostrils upward toward the forehead of the wearer, so that the breath from an operator or wearer is entirely diverted from the patient or customer.

No expensive material is used and as the device is of very simple construction the mask can be manufactured cheaply. It is easy to apply and has many other advantages beside the safety it provides to patient or customer, it should be of great use and demand.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the mask.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on a plane along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the mask.

In the drawing similar reference numerals refer to the same detail in the different views.

The main part of the mask consists of the nose guard It, preferably made of rubber or plastic and has an inwardly or rear open cavity H of a size to fit a persons nose and of suitable length to reach down from the forehead, between the eyes to below the nostrils. At its lower end is provided a shelf-like bottom It! with a low ridge l3 spaced slightly below the nose, whereby to cover the nostrils and yet permits the wearer full freedom or breathing, said ridge contacting with the upper lip.

From the space M two parallel passages l5, l6 are formed in the nose piece reaching up to the top thereof so as to open into the atmosphere. They have a slight taper, being widest near the nostrils.

An ear or wing I! is provided on each side of the nose piece In near the top thereof, and a lower ear or wing I8 is provided near each nostril. A flexible strap or band 19 with a buckle 20 for adjusting its length is fastened with its ends on said wings or ears l1, and a like strap 21 with buckle 22 extends between the lower wings or ears l8. Both straps serve to fasten the mask on the wearers head as indicated in Figure 2.

With the mask in that position on a mans head, he can inhale air from the top of the two passages l5, l6 through the bottom space M into the nostrils and exhale in the opposite direction, when the air will leave the passages l5, 16 at the top of the mask. In this manner all exhaled air from the operator will be diverted from the patient or the customer without causing him annoyance.

It will be clearly understood that the invention as here disclosed is not limited to the details herein described, but that the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claim.

I claim:

A face mask of the character described comprising a substantially thick nose conforming guard provided with a head encircling means for holding the guard snugly against the nasal portion of the face, said guard being of resilient material and formed with a depression on the top of its bottom portion and ducts extending from said depression upwardly through the guard to open through the top portion thereof, said ducts being of downwardly increasing cross-sectional area to the point where they meet the said de pression.

FRANK L. HOWER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,281,211 Rogers Oct. 8, 918 1,539,733 Haskell May 26, 1925 

